Composition and antimicrobial and anti-wood-decay fungal activities of the leaf essential oils of Machilus pseudolongifolia from Taiwan.

The hydrodistillated leaf essential oil of Machilus pseudolongifolia was analyzed to determine its composition and yield. Seventy compounds were identified, the main components being beta-eudesmol (26.8%), alpha-cadinol (20.8%), viridiflorene (8.9%), alpha-caryophyllene (5.3%), globulol (4.6%) and beta-caryophyllene (4.2%). Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (60.1%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (31.4%) were the predominant groups of compounds. The leaf oil exhibited excellent antimicrobial and anti-wood-decay fungal activities.